Wedding cancellations due to Covid

wesleyad

I saw this article in the BBC today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52400441

Basically the wedding venue is cancelling due to the current circumstances, but the enforcing the (extortionate) cancellation fee on the client. I should point out the venue is offering alternate dates for free which seems like a fair compromise, but some people don't want to take that offer.

However from a pure consumer rights POV, surely one side cancelling a contract (by choice or not) cannot possible then be legal for the other side to pay the cancellation charges? If the venue had burned down would the same apply? Seem completely contrary to any sort of contract law. The article is very vague about whether this is legal, just has someone from Which saying it's "unacceptable" which doesn't mean much.

Just wondered what the thought were on this?

DoaM

If the seller is seeking to change the terms of the contract then they cannot seek to enforce any cancellation terms written into the contract, as they are the ones who will be in breech of contract. Any term in a consumer contract that would attempt make this an acceptable scenario would almost certainly be found as an Unfair term.

Rabbitcatcher

Hi guys, I’m Adam, named in this story. Just on the ‘offering alternate dates’ point - for clarity Bijou clearly cancelled on us before a government order, sent us a cancellation charge and packed us off to our own insurers some week before any kind of backtrack (or shall we say attempt to ‘cancel the cancellation’). By which time we had already cancelled with own own suppliers who of course rightly, kept their deposits. 

I can go further into their inflexibility to negotiate on revised postponement date options, costs and head counts - lots of other couples are facing that issue right now, but as I say I really don’t think we are one of those couples - because we have been cancelled on an told to pay more. A quote from Bijou staff on our online planner 20/03/20: ‘We must be grateful for the fact that we are worrying about adjustments to an event that is, if we really think about it, something of a luxury. 

MoneySavingNovice

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding.

Can I ask:-

1)  Do you have written proof that the venue has cancelled this,  i.e. proof that it's them who cancelled not you?

2) What are the terms and conditions in your contract if the venue cancels?

3) Have you paid this venue anything towards this event via Credit Card?

robatwork

Letter Before Action to claim the entire fee (and out of pocket expenses)

Then initiate action.

They'll fold quicker than an origamist on speed.

wesleyad

It's almost insurance fraud (by the venue). They are unilaterally cancelling a contract, keeping the money, then telling the client to claim on their insurance. They get to keep the money for a wedding that never happened and the insurance company foots the bill. No way that can be right.

derekb1342

Has anyone heard any more about Bijou offering full refunds. With the attention they received in the media and Consumer Which reporting them to the CMA and some couples actually threatening court action has it all actually had any impact on them changing their attitude and offering the option of a full refund 

Rabbitcatcher

derekb1342 said:

Has anyone heard any more about Bijou offering full refunds. With the attention they received in the media and Consumer Which reporting them to the CMA and some couples actually threatening court action has it all actually had any impact on them changing their attitude and offering the option of a full refund 

Hi Derek, 
No. Multiple couples, such my partner and I, are still facing a lengthy and costly fight with Bijou weddings.